Right on religion, or would it be right on politics?

Published January 31, 2008 5:00am ET



In outlining the “dilemma” for evangelicals in 2008, Pastor Robert Jeffers of the First Baptist Church in Dallas quotes Martin Luther, asking: “Would you rather be ruled by a competent infidel or an incompetent believer?”

Jeffers speaks in “Article VI,” a new documentary about religion in public life, much of it filtered through the lens of Mitt Romney’s Mormonism.

Romney’s faith, Jeffers says later, “is a big deal. … Mormonism is a cult!” He then paraphrases the apostle Paul, saying “if anyone takes the gospel and adds to it, let that person go to Hell. How’s that for tolerant?”

Also appearing in the film: The Rev. Monsignor Salvatore Criscuolo, pastor of St. Patrick’s in D.C.; Pastor George Evans, the former spiritual adviser to Chief Justice William Rehnquist; American University professor Daniel Dreisbach; and the Christian protesters who last year disrupted the first prayer by a Hindu on the Senate floor.

Tonight, a special screening of the film will be held at the Heritage Foundation, featuring Ralph Reed, the Southern Baptist Convention’s Richard Land and director Bryan Hall.